PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF THE AVA ILABLE FORAGE OF PIGEON PEACULTIVARS DURING DRY SEASON

This work was carried out at Boa Esperanca Farm, sited in Jeriquara, N ortheast of Sao Paulo State aiming to study seven cultivars of Pigeonp ea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp). Ramdomized blocks design were used in a split-plot scheme studying the following cultivars: Empasc 307, Fava Larga, Branco de Minas, ICPL 304, ICPL 85063, ICPL 270 and LGR 30, be ing the last four of them of Indian origin. Cultivars were cut three t imes during the period May-October, 1992. These cuts were done every t welve weeks, when leaves, flowers, pods and branches were harvested wi th diameter equal or smaller than 6 mm; the set of these fractions was considered available forage. Results showed that the cultivars, excep t Empasc 307, always revealed higher percentage of leaves and, consequ ently, higher dry matter production of this fraction in relation to to tal available forage. The available forage production, as well as the crude protein and acid detergent fiber percentage and in vitro dry mat ter digestibility allow to recommend the LGR 30, ICPL 304, Branco de M inas and ICPL 270 cultivars as the most promising ones for utilization as protein banks to be used during dry season.